Disclaimer - same as usual... read at the start.

Thank you to Tanya Reed and Merrybeans for the reviews :) Sorry about the spelling and grammar I will try to get better at that.

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Chapter 8 - the letter

"What was that all about syd?" Nigel asked, after quickly assigning some bookwork while their beloved professor took a personal phone call.

"N..Nothing just forgot something that's all" Sydney stuttered attempting to regain her composer while still staring at her cell phone.

"It doesn't sound like nothing Syd" Nigel quietly remarked when Sydney put her phone in her black skirt pocket and then looked up at him hiding her worry under a smile.

She looked back at him and stared into his eyes, could he tell she was lying? "I just forgot something at the office Nigel, I'll be right back" she said turning to the door and leaving.

He watched her disappear out the door regaining her super women aura in a few mere seconds. She was amazing. He stared at the door for a while until out of the corner of his eye he saw the students looking at him. A few of the female students had a knowing smirk on their faces.

He shook his head out of his thought and turned to the class "Righ..Right then" he said as he once again began teaching.

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Sydney came into the office quietly and surveyed the room, Karen was not at her desk... where was she her heart skipped a beat then got back to normal when she saw her friend in her office.

"Karen?" Sydney said softly as she leaned in her office doorframe. Her assistant was sitting in the chair in front of her desk staring down at her desk as if into space. She had a look on her face Sydney had only seen a few times before. That wretched look of total fear that consumed someone's total being. When she didn't answer Sydney walked closer to her and gently laid her hand on Karen's shoulder.

"Syd..I saw. and .. and he was here... and.. and the letter" Karen managed to croak out she really hated seaming weak in front of her friends, especially Sydney. She couldn't help it though.

Sydney was concerned now she turned the chair around sideways and crouched in front of her stuttering secretary.

"What do you mean Karen? I don't understand" Sydney asked softly, she could hardly hear Karen let alone understand her

Karen opened her mouth a few times but she couldn't seem to find the words. She sighed and looked over at Sydney's desk.

Sydney focused on Karen for a second staring into her eyes trying to figure out what she was talking about then matched Karen's gaze on her desk.

'No it couldn't be!' she thought to herself. The thought had crossed her mind when she got the call from Karen that it could be the stalker but had cleared it from her mind. Her gaze was fixed on the white envelope on her desk. She stood up slowly and went around her desk, her hand leaving Karen's shoulder in the process. Her stomach dropped when she recognized the hand writing.

Sydney slowly picked up the letter as if it were the worst thing in the world. she dropped into her chair waiting a second as if it were a dream and she was trying to wake up, but it was real. She slowly opened the letter.

I see you from the shadows of night

When you're all alone in the dark

I will come soon.

The guy obviously wasn't a good writer but that fact didn't stop the shiver go down her back. She sat there just staring at the letter for five minutes "I will come soon" she couldn't take her eyes off that one sentence. She pulled her eyes away from the paper and looked at Karen. She threw the letter in the garbage "It's nothing Karen... don't worry" she said trying to convince herself more than her assistant.

"Syd I really think we should call the police.. he broke in! I mean I didn't let him in and he didn't come through the office he came through the window without tripping the alarm... I mean common this guy knows what he's doing syd, maybe its best to get some help." Karen said she couldn't help her rising temper. She hated when people messed with her friends especially Nigel and Sydney.

"I know what I'm doing Karen, Nigel and I have dealt with a lot worse you know so just forget it!" Sydney Snapped at Karen, she knew it wasn't a joke but she couldn't believe it was actually happening.

Karen winced as Sydney yelled at her she forced herself out of the chair and walked out of Sydney's office stopping half way to her desk knowing that Sydney had followed her out. "Sure Syd" she couldn't hide the hurt in her voice having Sydney yell at her was like being cut with a knife and she didn't want to fight with her.

Sydney went towards Karen she hadn't meant to yell at her, she had let the fear overtake her. "Karen... I didn't mean it... I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell"

Karen raised herself from her desk and pulled Sydney into a tight hug "I know, I'm just really scared for you"

"Me too" Sydney admitted in a whisper so quiet, Karen couldn't hear her though they were just millimeters apart.

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It was 6:30 and Nigel was late. When she had rejoined him in the class he had said he would be over a six. She had been pacing for the last half hour. She had looked in the mirror every five minutes, fixing her hair then messing it up again because she didn't want to overdue it. Sydney sighed and looked at her watch as another minute passed she walked into the kitchen and got herself some water from the water cooler. She downed the first glass in one gulp she quickly got herself another. She attempted to drink it quickly again but she choked on the water, and successfully soaked her shirt. 'Damnit' she thought, the one time it had to happen it had to happen then.

:Ding Dong: her doorbell sounded

"Damnit" she said out loud she tossed the glass in the sink and went to open the door

"Hi Nigel" she said hiding herself behind the door but sticking her head around to see him

"Sorry Syd the..." Nigel attempted but was cut off by Sydney "don't worry about it Nige just give me a second" she interrupted before she turned and ran up the stairs so he couldn't see her with a soaked top like a slob.

"Okay" he said as he kicked of his shoes and put the pizza box on the living room coffee table. He glanced over everything once noticing she had set out paper and pens and books and notes to write the exam from. He hated writing exams almost as much as marking them, but he had to do it. 'But on as a plus you'll get to hang out with Sydney' his mind reminded him. He smirked as he grabbed some plates and glasses; a sparkle on the floor caught his eye. a small puddle of water was on the floor. 'That's why she was acting odd she spilled water on her top' he thought with a small laugh he grabbed a paper towel and wiped it up before returning to the living room.

"Hurry up Syd or I'm going to eat all the pizza!" he called out playfully

Sydney bounded down the stairs and into the living room successfully cutting him off and getting to the pizza first. She opened the box to reveal the extra cheese and pineapple pizza. "Thank Nigel" she said looking back at him before grabbing two pieces.

"Your welcome" he replied as he handed her a plate and grabbing his own slices. "I knew nothing could come between you and your pizza" he said playfully.

Sydney gave him a sarcastic look and tried to hide the giggles that were trying to come out, but she couldn't and they both started laughing. They finished there slices soon and started working on the exams.

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Sydney woke up silently and looked around. She recognized the dimly lit living room and groaned as her eyes fell on the exams. They still weren't done, but they were three quarters of the way there. She saw Nigel on the other end of the couch, a binder full of there class notes still on his lap. She chuckled quietly he always was so... so diligent, he worked himself into sleep. She rested her head on her shoulder and stared at him. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, so young and carefree. He was gorgeous. she suddenly had the urge to touch him. she softly took the book off his lap and brushed away the loose wisps of hair from his eyes. her hand shot back as he started to stir. It was only for a moment though and he went back into a deep sleep in seconds. "Ohh Nigel" she sighed as she laid her head on his shoulder. his head slowly laid itself on hers. She felt so comfortable as she slowly drifted back into sleep.

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Ugghh I'm eating pizza as I write this if you can't tell… when I started writing the chapter last night, we had pizza. Then I had leftover pizza for lunch and now as I'm writing this to you with one hand, Im trying to decide if I'm going to puke if I finish this last part of pizza in my left hand that my sister's friend's mom so kindly brought us. Lesson learned… no matter how much you love pizza don't eat it for three meals in a row :( (I skipped breakfast) 'Takes a bite' yea trust me on this one… excuse me I have to go puke.